HEARTS & VALENTINES DAY

It was not the Valentine's Day that any of us were planning on. CJ and I had grand plans of a lazy day working on home projects, I needed to update the blog with pictures from our trip, we planned on getting takeout from our favorite Thai restaurant and maybe making a yummy homemade dessert. You know...a quiet day together. Mom and Dad had also planned to lunch at their favorite Mexican restaurant, Mom was going to make her traditional heart shaped sugar cookies with each of our names written on them and of course Dad had set plans to watch the BYU game. Everyone else had plans of their own too, I'm sure. Its amazing how quickly you'll drop anticipated and looked forward to plans when someone you love needs you. My mom called on Friday night with word that my Dad had been having a few chest pains, had gone to the doctor, done a stress test and they were concerned that he had a blockage and wanted him in early Saturday morning for an angioplasty. This was a relatively minor, minimally invasive surgery to open things up and they expected him to be home later that day or Sunday.

We're talking about my DAD. My Dad that even in his 70's he goes to the gym and works out almost every single day (he was working out on Wednesday when he first noticed chest pain and blew it off as heartburn...he was also back at the gym on Thursday afternoon working out before finally deciding he better check in with his doctor). This is my Dad who was a college athlete and has been a runner his whole life. My Dad who cliff dives at Lake Powell, waterskis, parasails, golfs and is always up for an adventure. My Dad that hiked to the top of Mt Sinai with CJ and I only 8 months ago...


This is my Dad that was out snorkeling with us all day in Cozumel less than 2 short weeks ago, my Dad who on the cruise, when there is a ridiculous amount of food available to eat almost around the clock, ordered grilled salmon almost every single night and ate big green salads for lunch. (Sure he ate plenty of desserts throughout the week...we all did) This is my adored Dad who takes better care of himself than most 30 year olds I know and has always been in great health.

Saturday morning turned from routine and minor into shock and fear as we learned that he would need open heart surgery with atleast a quadruple, maybe even quintuple bypass. The main artery in his heart is 100% blocked and 3 to 4 others are partially blocked. The doctor essentially told him that he should be dead and that his healthy lifestyle and probably divine intervention are what has kept him here with such minimal heart function. Isn't it appropriate that the medical intervention he needed to fix his heart and continue to keep him here came on Valentine's Day? A day that is all about hearts and loved ones. My mom and I have joked that he has been so active with apparently very little proper function in his heart...we better watch out once they get him fully functioning again. Now, we really won't be able to keep up.

Dad has been in the hospital all weekend where he's been monitored and is stable and feeling good. We spent Saturday afternoon in the waiting room making big glittery posters and giant cards with the little kids to help brighten his Valentines Day and cheer up his room. This morning, in just a few short hours, they will come and take him in for what is expected to be a 5-7 hour surgery to fix him up so that I can have my Dad for another 20 years. My greatest fear as I have gotten older and have struggled with infertility has always been that my children won't have the chance to really get to know and be loved by their incredible Grandparents on this earth. I am asking for anyone who may be reading this to please say a little prayer for my Dad that all will go well with his surgery and that he will have a quick and speedy recovery and be able to fully return to the life he loves and all of the people who love him.

Dad and I on my wedding day. He was the one who sealed CJ and I

The family just before the holidays.

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And one of my very favorite pictures of me and my Dad...

There is nothing better than the safety and security you feel with your parents arms around you...

... even when you're a "thirtysomething"